Interlocking relay



April 14, 1931# F. M. H|| l 1,800,200

INTERLOCKING RELAY Filed Ilay 9, 1927 Z6 Y ggf, @391 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oil-FICE FBEDEBICKFI. HILL, OF WESTMONT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE RAILROAD SUPPLY COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DWTERLOCKING RELAY Application led May 9, 1927. Serial No. 189,860.

The invention pertains to a signalling system, and more particularly to an interlock which will only operate while a train is entering and passing a crossing, regardless of the position of other signalling blocks adjacent the crossing.

It is common practice to provide a signal such as a bell, semaphore, flashing lights, etc. at a grade crossing, together with a relay energized from any convenient source of current to hold open the switch controlling said signal. According to such prior structures, it was common to have the metal of a car truck shunt the source of vcurrent whereby the switch Vcontrolling the signal was allowed to operate, and in such a system, the signal continued to operate until the rear of the train had passed the crossing and the succeeding block. It will therefore be seen that there was a continuous and unnecessary operation of the signal after the train had passed the crossing, which is decidedly undesirable as it causes disrespect for the signal.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a relay of simple, effective, flexible and inexpensive character, to make and maintain, whereby a warning signal will not operate after the train has passed the crossnother object is to provide interengaging gravity latches for a relay which will allow operating members of the relay to function but will insure that no signal is given after a train has passed a crossing.

A further object is to provide a relay of such character that if a part of the system should fail, the crossing signal will still op-v erate as a warning.

A still further object is to provide an electric relay controlled by a train entering a block to actuate a signal but which prevents continued actuation of said signal when the train has left the block and passed the crossther and more specific objects will occur from the detailed description and drawings appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a diagram of a plurality of blocks of a railroad, showing the hookup of the relay with said blocks;

Figure 2 is an elevation of a relay device made up of a plurality of actuating units controlled by the relay latches;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan of a portion of the device shown in Figure 2 taken Sulstantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; an

Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the lockin latches for controlling the signal.

eferring particularly to the form of the device shown in Figures 2 and 3, the device may for descriptive purposes be conveniently divided into two parts, which parts are controlled by a train entering ad]acent blocks. In the embodiment shown, solenoids 5 and 5, shown as a double uniteach made up of individual solenoids 5a and 5b, support a platform member 11 carrying binding posts 10 which are adapted to be connected to the rails of their particular block. As already pointed out, this device is made up of a plurality of units so it will only be necessary to describe one unit, it being understood that similar parts of the device are of the same construction and for similar use.

The solenoids 5 may be supported from any convenient base 28 which is suitably connected or supported by a base 27, between which bases the moving parts of the relay may be conveniently disposed. Between the bases 28 and 27, there may be hinged along an axis as indicated at X-X, the Contact member 6 made up of a plurality of fingers 6a, 6b, etc., and the similar member 6 also made up of fingers Ga, 6b, etc. The member 6 is provided with contact fingers l5 which are adapted to alternately contact the post 13, and the post 14 which may have a portion surrounding but not contacting the arm 6a, and which member 14 has an upstanding post or finger 30 adapted to have Contact with the finger 15 when said finger is in lowered position.

Metal bars or saddles 29 are adapted to straddle the contact members 6 and 6 beneath the solenoids. These members may each conveniently carry an insulated arm 19 bent to a convenient shape, to be disposed to the operating bar 19.-,

act-nate the latches and 21. TheseV latches 20 and 21, which form the important part of this invention, are pivoted at 23 and 23 and are adapted to be actuated toward each other by the members 19. These latches may conveniently be 'carried on a bracket 25 which is adjusted Vby'means 26 and 26', said latches comprising a shank terminating in. an arcu ate edge 22 terminating in a toe, the `edge of one latch providing a .blocking means for the toe of the` other latch when the firstnamed latch is operated. The latch also is provided with a shoulder 24 adjacent the pivot, substantiallyV at right angles to the shank of the latch and disposed in way of As already pointed out, the other side of therelayV is exactly the same; that is, fingers 6a and 6'?) correspond, respectively, to the fingers 6a and 6b, and the posts 13 and 14 correspond to the posts 13 and 14 respectively.y

The device is conveniently hooked up to the track circuit Vas follows: As this device is made up of'a plurality of units, cach of which may independently operate its respective latch, it is only necessary to describe the hook upV of one arm, for instance, 6a and 6'@ of each side of the relay, as it will be understood that the other arms of the units may 'be hooked up in a similar way to other blocks to operate the signal. The solenoid 5, as seen in Figure 1, is hooked up to one block of the track 1, through the posts 10, said track having two blocks wherein the points V3 designate insulated 'joints in the track. The other solenoid' is attached ina similar manner to the block B. It will, of course, be understood thatJ the middle insulating point 3 designates the crossing. Y

These solenoids 5 and 5 are constantly sup.'- plied with current from any source 4 -and:4', respectively, attached to the respective blocks A and The contact members 6 and 6' are attached through one post leading to'Y 17 and 17', respectively, to acurrent source or battery 9, the Vother post of said battery being fastened toa postof the signal 8. ylhe posts 13 13", which areadapted to be contacted by ngers 15 of the'contact members n6 and 6 when the solenoids are in energized position,

Vmay beconnected to any line and run to actuation of the signal by the relay is concerned. The Vcontact members 7 and V'' are adapted to be attached vthrough the posts 14 and 14 to the other post of the signal 8,v

' as indicated in Figure 1.

enters this block will shunt the current of the left hand battery, 4, which will cause the solenoid 5 to become deenergized and will allow the contact member 6 to drop, causingrthe course, break contact with post 13 and make contact with the post 14. ln other words, the Contact member 6, referring to Figure l', will come in contact with tn'e Contact member 7,

. closing the circuit and causing the signal to actuate. As the train continues to the crossing, and as lthe forward locomotive trucks enter the'block B, the solenoid 5', through a similar shunting of the battery` 4', will become deenergized, allowing the contact member 6 to drop, but as the latch 20 is interposed in way of the latch 21, the fingers 15' thoughV they break Contact with their post 13', similar to 13, will not be allowed to travel far enough to f contact with the contact member 7' through its post 14'; therefore, when the train continues on its way and has passed out of the block A so that current in the block A is no longer shuntedand the solenoid 5 is en ergized, picking up the contact member 6, the

signal will not operate asfriction or pressure between the toe of the member 21 and the arcuate edge of the member 20 will keep these members from moving -and prevent the con' tact member 6' from closing its circuit'with the post 14'. But it will readily be seen that as soonY as the solenoid 5 lifts the contact member 6, breaking the Contact betweenV the Vmembers Grand 7 ,through the linger 15 and postx14, the signal will stop operating; VIt

will be Vunderstood that as soon as the train they will drop'into inoperativeor free osition as they were before the tram entere the block A. y lt will, of course, be understoodthat a like operation occurs with lthe train coming in the Vopposite direction Vand enteringrblock B Vfirst before entering block A. I p

1t will also be seen that if there is any failing of the system due to fai'lureof the batteries 4 or'4', oran accidental shunting between the rails, that a warning signal will still be given, as there is an part of the device.

lt is understood that the embodiment of the device and system shown is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, Vas other embodimentsl will readily occur to those Y. skilled in theart.

- l claim: Y Y` 1.A An interlockingrelay 'having in combination a plurality. of solenoids, members' cooperating Vwith said solenoids and controlled actuation of a its Y iis thereby for controlling electric circuits, and two gravity latches freely pvoted about different axes and adapted to be moved toward each other for locking pur oses, and a lug on each latch positioned on t e side away from the other latch for holding said latch in operative position.

2. An interlocking relay having in combination a plurality of solenoids, members cooperating with said solenoids and controlled thereby for controlling electric circuits, said members including a plurality of fingers and means carried by said fingers adapted to opcrate interlocking latches, said latches provided With latch-engaging toes, and a short lug on each latch positioned on the side away from the other latch for holding said latch in operative position.

3. An interlocking relay having in combination a plurality of solenoids, members cooperating with said solenoids and controlled thereby for controlling electric circuits, and latches freely pivoted about different axes and adapted to be moved toward each other for locking purposes to prevent operation of one of said members under certain conditions, and a short lug on each latch for holding said latch in operative position.

4. In an interlocking device for a relay, the combination of gravity latches freely pivoted about separate axes and adapted to be moved toward each other for locking purposes, arcuate portions terminating in latch-engaging toes, and a lug on each latch positioned on the side away from the other latch for holding said latch in operative position.

5. In a device of the character described the combination of members adapted to be operated in sequence, means preventing operationV of one of said members after the other of said members has been operated, said means comprising interlocking latches and a short lug on each latch for holding said latch in operative position.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of members adapted to operate external means, said members being adapted to be operated in sequence and means operated by each of said members for preventing operation of one of said members yafter the other of said members have been ate external means, said members being adapted to operate in sequence and means carried by said members for operating interlocking latches for preventing operation of one of said members after the other of said members have been operated.

8. A latch for interlocking relays having a pivot opening, an edge lying in an arc about sald opening, and a short lug so arranged that the latch may be caused to pivot by coaction between said lug and an external member.

9. A latch for interlocking relays having a pivot opening, an edge lying 1n an arc about said opening and extending to one side thereof, and a short lug projecting from said latch on the other side of said latch.

10. A latch for interlocking relays having a vertically extending shank with a pivot opening near the to thereof, a toe extending horizontally from t e bottom thereof, and a short lug projecting from near the top of the other side of said shank, said toe having its bottom edge lying in an arc about said opemng.

l1. An interlocking relay having in combination a plurality of solenoids, members cooperating with said solenoids and controlled thereby for controlling electric circuits, a latch support including two spaced pivots, a threaded extension on said support,

an adjustment nut screwed on said extension for adjusting said support and a latch mounted freely on each of said pivots, one of said latches having an edge arcuate about its pivot and extending toward the other latch and a short lug extending outwardly in the opposite direction.

12. Interlocking apparatus for relays including a pair of latches pivotally mounted about spaced axes and in a common plane, one latch having an interlocking toe extending toward the other, said other having an edge arcuate about its pivotal axis and adapted to swing into the line of movement of said toe, and having a lug arranged to cause that latch so to swing, the extending portion being so shaped that the latches can contact only through the end of the toe of one or the other.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th day of May, 1927.

FREDERICK M. HILL. 

